The Steinbrecher Fellowship Program

In 2005, the family and friends of Clark alumnus David C. Steinbrecher '81 created the Steinbrecher Fellowship Program with a generous gift that established a permanent endowment in memory of David that provides fellowships for Clark undergraduates to pursue original ideas, creative research, public service or enrichment projects. The Steinbrecher Fellowship awards, given to 8-10 students each year, range from $500 to $2,500.

The Steinbrecher Fellowship also seeks to create and maintain a vibrant community of learners by bringing Fellows together with each other and with a small group of faculty mentors to share ideas, experiences, and intellectual excitement at dinners and other special gatherings several times during each academic year.

Fellows have pursued a wide variety of creative, research, and public service projects. These have included:

conducting experimental research at the University of Massachusetts Medical School on the role of an insulin receptor protein in regulating breast cancer metastasis;

conducting research on how the characteristics of the Native American flute reflect the traditions, mythology, and perspectives on life and nature of the people who made and play it by taking flute lessons from local native players, attending concerts and tribal powwows, and participating in a week-long Native American Flute Workshop in Montana;

touring and photographing the dramatic landscape in Iceland and preparing an exhibition and book with photos of Iceland;

teaching at a school and an orphanage in Lilongwe, Malawi, and researching how HIV/AIDS has affected the lives of children there;

working with the Climate Summer 2007 project, educating New Hampshire residents about global warming through town meetings, educational outreach, community-based discussions and presentations;

examining Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in China by interviewing workers at Microsoft and China Telecom;

Eligibility

Students who have completed (or will have completed by the end of the current academic year) at least two semesters at Clark and plan to return to Clark for the coming year are eligible for the fellowships.

Application

Applications are available here (Word doc). The deadline for applications is February 16, 2018 at 5 pm. Applicants should submit completed form, a copy of their transcript (an unofficial academic grade report will suffice) and a 3-5 page statement describing their proposed project via email to the Selection Committee at klfisher@clarku.edu. The statement should:

describe the proposed project including when and where it will be carried out;

explain where/when/how the idea for the project originated and what makes it intriguing/important for the applicant to pursue it;

provide an estimated budget for the project, including for example, travel costs, lodging, meals, equipment, etc.

list the name, department, email and phone number of the faculty member who has agreed to serve as the sponsor for the project and who will provide a letter of recommendation. In addition, provide the name of an additional faculty member (or other member of the Clark or external community, if relevant) who has also agreed to provide a letter of recommendation.

The recommenders should comment on the applicant's abilities and potential for intellectual growth and evaluate the proposed project. They should send their letters directly to the Selection Committee at klfisher@clarku.edu by the February deadline.

Criteria for Selection

Criteria for selection will include the originality or distinctiveness of the proposed project; the applicant's potential for carrying out an excellent project; and the likely contribution of the project to enhancing the knowledge, understanding, and perspectives of the applicant and other Steinbrecher Fellows.

Further Information

Students interested in applying for a Steinbrecher Fellowship should feel free to contact Professor Deb Robertson, Director of the Fellowship Program, via email to debrobertson@clarku.edu.